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Gallery of South Asian Airpower
Gallery of South Asian Airpower
Attack Aircraft
the markings of the RTN’s No. 301 Squadron, will be
its first complement of nine aircraft: seven AV-8A(S)
single-seat and two TAV-8A(S) tandem-seat trainers.
These first-generation Harrier V/STOL combat aircraft
A‑5C have recently been transferred following a long but low-
Since China extensively redesigned the J‑6 (license time career with the Spanish Navy’s air arm, but are
MiG‑19) fighter‑bomber into a dedicated attack aircraft reckoned to have some eight to 10 years of operational
(Chinese designation Q-5) in the mid-1960s, several life left, and will provide the RTN with a much-needed
hundred Q‑5s have been built for China’s PLA Air on-the-spot air presence in the Gulf of Thailand. On
Force, in various versions [see “Gallery of Far East/ arrival in their new country, the Harriers will be joined
Pacific Airpower,” November 1995, p. 48] and for export. on board by the six Sikorsky S-70B Seahawks that
The much‑improved A‑5C was developed to meet a are due to be delivered to the RTN this year. (Data
1981 order from the Pakistan Air Force (which calls A-5-III (A-5C), Pakistan Air Force (Denis for standard AV-8A.)
Contractor: British Aerospace Military Aircraft Divi‑
them A-5-IIIs). It has a Martin-Baker zero/zero seat, Hughes) sion, UK.
upgraded avionics, and can carry weapons and drop
tanks standard on other PAF aircraft, including Side Power Plant: one Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 103
winder air-to-air missiles (AAMs). Of the 52 delivered turbofan; 21,500 lb thrust.
for Nos. 7, 16, and 26 Squadrons at Peshawar and Dimensions: span 25 ft 3 in, length 45 ft 7 in, height
Masr oor, numbers are now down to about 42. Bangla 11 ft 11 in.
desh still has 12 of the 20 ordered from 1986 to equip Weights: empty 12,190 lb, gross 17,050 lb (vertical
No. 8 Squadron at Chittagong and No. 21 at Dhaka. T-O), 22,300 lb (short T-O).
The 24 ordered by Myanmar, delivered from 1993, also Performance: max speed at S/L 730 mph, ceiling
equip two attack squadrons, at Meiktila and Myitkyina. 51,200 ft, T-O run with 5,000-lb payload approx 1,000
Contractor: Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Com‑ ft, range with 4,400-lb payload 230 miles (lo-lo-lo),
pany, People’s Republic of China. 414 miles (hi-lo-hi).
Power Plant: two Liming WP6 turbojets; each 7,165 Accommodation: pilot only, on zero/zero ejection seat.
lb thrust with afterburning. Armament: four underwing hardpoints and one on cen‑
Dimensions: span 31 ft 10 in, length 51 ft 6 in (excl terline, plus provision to replace twin underfuselage
noseprobe), height 14 ft 9 3⁄ 4 in. strakes by two 30-mm Aden gun pods; max external
stores load 5,300 lb. Typical stores incl bombs of up to
Weights: empty 14,105 lb, gross 20,932–26,455 lb. AU-23A Peacemaker, Royal Thai Air 1,000-lb size, pods of 19 68-mm rockets, Sidewinder
Performance: max speed (clean) at 36,000 ft Mach
1.12, at S/L 758 mph, ceiling (clean) 52,000 ft, T‑O
Force (Denis Hughes) AAMs (outboard underwing only), a reconnaissance
run (clean) 2,460 ft, landing run with brake‑chute camera pod, or auxiliary fuel tanks.
3,480 ft, combat radius (max external stores) 248–373
miles, range (with external fuel) 1,240 miles. G‑4 Super Galeb
Accommodation: pilot only, on zero/zero ejection seat. At least six sweptwing Super Galebs were delivered
Armament: 23‑mm Norinco Type 23‑2K gun, with to the air force of Myanmar in 1990–92. They equip
100 rds, in each wingroot. Ten weapon stations (two a dual-role counterinsurgency/training squadron at
pairs in tandem under fuselage and three under Meikt ila, alongside a squadron of turboprop Pilatus
each wing) for up to 4,410 lb of stores incl bombs, PC-7 and PC-9 armed trainers.
rockets, AAMs or ASMs, other ordnance, electronic Contractor: Vazduhoplovna Industrija Soko, Yugo
countermeasures (ECM) pods, or drop tanks. slavia.
Power Plant: one license-built Rolls-Royce Viper Mk
A-7E Corsair II 632‑46 turbojet; 4,000 lb thrust.
In 1994, the Thai government approved the purchase Dimensions: span 32 ft 5 in, length 40 ft 2 1⁄ 4 in,
of 14 former US Navy A-7E Corsair II single-seat light height 14 ft 1 1⁄ 4 in.
attack aircraft and four two-seat TA‑7Cs for operation by Weights: empty 6,993 lb, gross 10,379–13,889 lb.
the Royal Thai Navy. Deliveries, following refurbishing, IA 58A Pucará, Sri Lanka Air Force Performance (at 10,379 lb gross weight): max speed
at 13,120 ft 565 mph, max cruising speed at 19,700
began in July 1995 with the first two TA-7Cs and were (Denis Hughes) ft 525 mph, ceiling 42,160 ft, T‑O run 1,877 ft,
to continue at the rate of two per month. An additional
three A-7 airframes were acquired as a source of spares. landing run 2,674 ft, range with two drop tanks
Intended for a maritime strike role, the Corsairs equip 1,553 miles.
No. 104 Squadron at U Tapao Naval Air Base, and Accommodation: crew of two, on tandem zero/zero
were, until the more recent arrival of AV-8 Harriers, the ejection seats. Rear seat raised.
Royal Thai Navy’s only jet fixed-wing combat aircraft. and No. 531 Squadron at Prachuap Khiri Khan for Armament: removable centerline gun pod containing
Contractor: Vought Corporation, USA. armed utility and transport missions. 23‑mm GSh‑23L twin‑barrel gun with 200 rds. Two
Power Plant: one Allison TF41-A-2 (Spey) non- Contractor: Fairchild Industries, USA. pylons under each wing for up to 2,822 lb of napalm
afterburning turbofan; 15,000 lb thrust. Power Plant: one AlliedSignal TPE331‑1‑101F tur‑ tanks, cluster bombs containing eight 35‑lb fragmen‑
Dimensions: span 38 ft 9 in (folded, 23 ft 9 in), length boprop; 650 shp. tation munitions, containers for 40 antipersonnel or
46 ft 1 1⁄ 2 in, height 16 ft 0 3⁄ 4 in. Dimensions: span 49 ft 8 in, length 36 ft 10 in, 54 antitank bomblets, 16‑tube 57-mm rocket packs,
Weights: empty 19,915 lb, gross 29,000–42,000 lb. height 12 ft 3 in. triple carriers for 220‑lb bombs, 12.7‑mm gun pods,
Performance: max speed at S/L (clean) 698 mph, Weight: gross 6,100 lb. or drop fuel tanks.
at 5,000 ft with 12 Mk 82 bombs 646 mph, ceiling Performance: max speed 175 mph, ceiling 22,800 ft,
42,000 ft, T‑O run 5,600 ft, landing distance 4,695 T‑O run 515 ft, landing run 295 ft, range 558 miles. IA 58A Pucará
ft, typical combat radius 490–715 miles. Accommodation: pilot and provision for up to nine An accident to one of the Sri Lanka Air Force’s four
Accommodation: pilot only, on ejection seat. passengers on seats that are quickly removable for Pucará close air support aircraft, and spares problems
Armament: one 20-mm M61 multibarrel gun; two equipment or freight carrying. Hatch in floor for drop‑ with the others, defeated plans to deploy them as No. 7
pylons under fuselage and three under each wing for ping supplies or leaflets or for a camera installation. Squadron to Vavuniya, closer to the territory claimed
more than 15,000 lb of Sidewinder AAMs, TV‑ and Armament: up to 2,000 lb of external stores on 500-lb by the Tamil separatists. A second Pucará was writ‑
laser-guided ASMs, ARMs, bombs, cluster bombs, capacity underfuselage station and four underwing ten off this year, and another is being cannibalized
rockets, and gun pods. hardpoints. One side-firing 20-mm gun in cabin, plus to keep the sole survivor operational. It is attached
two side-firing or underwing pod-mounted 7.62-mm to the Training Wing at Anuradhapura but is available
AU‑23A Peacemaker guns. External weapons (with minimum crew/pas‑ for counterinsurgency use. Its armored cockpit floor
This militarized version of the Swiss Pilatus Turbo- senger load) can incl bombs, gun pods, napalm, and is resistant to .30‑caliber ground fire from 500 ft, and
Porter short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility transport unguided rockets; other stores incl flare launchers, its fuel tanks are self‑sealing.
is configured for counterinsurgency and border-control smoke dispensers, and camera pods. Contractor: Fábrica Militar de Aviones, Argentina.
duties. Of 15 acquired by USAF for evalu ation under Power Plant: two Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprops;
the Credible Chase program for South Vietnam, 13 AV-8 Harrier each 978 shp.
were instead transferred to the Royal Thai Air Force Launched in January 1996 at its El Ferrol shipyard in Dimensions: span 47 ft 6 3⁄ 4 in, length 46 ft 9 1⁄ 4 in,
from 1973 under the Pave Coin program. Twenty more Spain, Thailand’s brand-new aircraft carrier, the 12,500- height 17 ft 7 1⁄ 4 in.
were acquired by Thailand from 1975, and about 22 ton HTMS Chakri Naruebet, was officially handed over Weights: empty 8,862 lb, gross 14,991 lb.
are still in service with No. 202 Squadron at Lop Buri to the Royal Thai Navy in March of this year and was Performance: max speed at 10,000 ft 310 mph, ceiling
expected to sail for Thailand in August. On board, in 32,800 ft, T‑O run at 12,125 lb weight 985 ft, landing
Br 1150 Atlantic 1
Three former French Navy Atlantic 1 maritime patrol
aircraft were sold to Pakistan in the mid-1970s; a fourth
was acquired later from the Netherlands, although
Model of fully developed Su-30MKI for India (Simon Watson) one has since been lost. They are operated by No. 29
Squadron of the Pakistan Navy, co-located with No. 93
Squadron’s EEZ Maritime Defenders at Mehran. Three
more arrived from France last year but are to be used
proposed radar upgrade program for the single-seaters giving exceptional agility of the kind demonstrated by only to provide spares for the existing trio. Equipment
was suspended last year, but additional trainers are the Su-37. All earlier aircraft will be modified to the includes a retractable radar, magnetic anomaly detector
being sought, possibly as many as five, from former same standard, and HAL has a license for follow-on (MAD) tailboom, and an Arar electronic surveillance
RAF or USMC stocks. (Data for FRS. Mk 51.) manufacture in India. (Data for initial version.) measures (ESM) pod on the fintip. Sonobuoys and
Contractor: British Aerospace Defence Ltd, UK. Design Bureau: Sukhoi OKB, Russia. marker flares are stowed in the rear fuselage. Flight
Power Plant: one Rolls‑Royce Pegasus Mk 104 Power Plant: two Saturn/Lyulka AL-31F turbofans; and mission crews occupy the pressurized upper
vectored-thrust turbofan; 21,500 lb thrust. each 27,557 lb thrust with afterburning. deck. Thomson-CSF of France is to upgrade two of
Dimensions: span 25 ft 3 in, length 47 ft 7 in, height Dimensions: span 48 ft 2 3⁄ 4 in, length 71 ft 11 1⁄ 2 in, the Atlantics by installing its Ocean Master radar, a
11 ft 10 in. height 20 ft 10 1⁄ 4 in . maritime situation control system, new sonobuoy signal
Weights: empty 14,052 lb, gross 26,200 lb. Weights: empty 39,022 lb, gross 56,592–74,957 lb. processing and navigation equipment, and DR 3000A
Performance: max speed at high altitude Mach 1.25, at Performance: max speed at height Mach 2.35, at ESM. The third Atlantic may be similarly upgraded later.
S/L more than 736 mph EAS, short T-O run (without S/L Mach 1.14, ceiling 57,415 ft, T-O run 1,805 ft, Contractor: SECBAT consortium, France, Germany,
ski jump) approx 1,000 ft, high-altitude intercept landing run 2,200 ft, combat range on internal fuel Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
radius 460 miles, strike radius 288 miles. 1,865 miles. Power Plant: two Rolls‑Royce Tyne RTy20 Mk 21
Accommodation: pilot only, on zero/zero ejection seat. Accommodation: two crew, on zero/zero ejection turboprops; each 6,106 ehp.
Armament: one centerline and four underwing hard seats; rear seat raised. Dimensions: span 119 ft 1 1⁄ 4 in, length 104 ft 2 in,
points for up to 8,000 lb of stores (5,000 lb for vertical Armament: one 30-mm GSh-301 gun, with 150 height 37 ft 2 in.
T-O), incl Sea Eagle ASMs, 1,030‑lb free‑fall and rds. Twelve hardpoints for R-27ER/ET (AA-10C/D Weights: empty 55,115 lb, gross 98,105 lb.
1,120‑lb parachute-retarded bombs, rockets, and “Alamo-C/D”), R-73E (AA-11 “Archer”) or R-77 Performance: max speed at height 409 mph, max
flares. Four Magic 2 AAMs can be carried on outboard (AA-12 “Adder”) AAMs; Kh-29L/T (AS-14 “Kedge”), cruising speed at 19,685 ft 363 mph, ceiling 32,800
pylons. Provision for replacing underf uselage strake Kh-31A/P (AS-17 “Krypton”) or Kh-59M (AS-18 ft, T‑O to 50 ft 4,430 ft, landing from 50 ft 3,215 ft,
fairings with two 30‑mm Aden gun pods. “Kazoo”) ASMs; AB-500, KAB-500KR and KAB- range 5,590 miles, max endurance 18 hr.
1500KR bombs; B-8M-1 (20 x 80-mm) and B-13L Accommodation: crew of 12 (two pilots, flight engineer,
Su‑20/22M-4 (NATO “Fitter-C/K”) (5 x 130-mm) rocket packs; 250-mm S-25 rockets, three observers, radio navigator, ESM/ECM/MAD
After years of combat, and with some aircraft in the and other weapons to a total weight of 17,635 lb. operator, radar/IFF operator, tactical coordinator, and
hands of rebel factions, no reliable estimate of the two acoustic sensor operators), plus a relief crew.
current status of Afghan air forces is possible. There Armament: internal weapons bay accommodates
is reported to be a fighter regiment at Shindand with standard bombs, mines, 385‑lb depth bombs, four
around 40 single-seat variable-geometry Su-20s homing or nine acoustic torpedoes, or two Exocet
(Fitter-C) and Su-22M-4s (Fitter-K) bequeathed to
the Air Force when Soviet forces quit Afghanistan.
The 22M-4s represent the final and most advanced
Bombers and ASMs. Underwing pylons for two more stores.
Dornier 228
variant of the Fitter family, with a laser rangefinder in
the intake centerbody, Doppler navigation radar inside
the bottom of the deepened nose, additional fuel in a
Maritime Aircraft This German STOL transport has appeared in several
variants, of which the 228‑100 series can carry 15 pas‑
sengers; the 228‑200 series (of which the ‑212 is now
deeper spine fairing, and a cooling air intake forward the standard model) is 5 ft longer. No. 202 Squadron
of the dorsal fin. (Data for Su-22M-4.) BN‑2 Islander/Defender of 2 Wing, Royal Thai Navy, has three 228-212s for
Design Bureau: Sukhoi OKB, Russia. A substantial number of these small STOL utility maritime patrol, as has No. 101 Squadron of 1 Wing.
Power Plant: one Saturn/Lyulka AL‑21F‑3 turbojet; transports have been sold as Defenders or military These aircraft have corrosion-proofed airframes and
24,800 lb thrust with afterburning. Islanders, with either 260 hp O‑540 or 300 hp IO‑540 are used for surveillance missions, offshore patrol,
Dimensions: span 44 ft 10 in spread, 32 ft 10 3⁄ 4 in piston engines (BN-2A and B) or 320 shp turboprops and search and rescue. Role equipment includes
swept, length incl probes 62 ft 5 in, height 16 ft 10 in. (BN-2T). Maritime Defenders have a “thimble” nose a ventral Bendix/King RDR-1500B maritime search
Weights: empty 23,738 lb, gross 42,770 lb. fairing for their search radar. Major operator in south radar, a searchlight pod on one of four underwing
Performance: max speed at height Mach 1.74, at Asia is the Indian Navy, whose seven BN-2A Maritime hardpoints, and a roller door for air-dropping survival
S/L Mach 1.1, ceiling 49,865 ft, T‑O run 4,922 ft, Defenders have Bendix RDR 1400 radar and are al‑ equipment. Smoke markers and flares can be dropped
landing run 3,609 ft, range at high altitude 1,585 located to INAS 318 at Port Blair. INAS 550 at Cochin, from a chute in the rear of the cabin. The Bhutan Air
miles, at S/L 870 miles. which received six standard BN-2As for multiengine Arm has a single 228 utility transport.
Accommodation: pilot only, on zero/zero ejection seat. training and general observation duties, last year Although India contracted in 1983 to license‑build
Armament: two 30‑mm NR‑30 guns in wingroots, began converting these to BN-2Ts; those of INAS up to 150 Dorn ier 228s at HAL’s Kanpur Division, by
each with 80 rds. Nine pylons under wings and 318 may be converted later. Pakistan’s Navy formed the beginning of this year only a third of that total had
fuselage for up to 8,820 lb of bombs, rocket packs, a new squadron, No. 93 at Mehran, to operate the two been manufactured, including 45 of 110 intended for
23‑mm gun pods, two R‑60 (“Aphid”) AAMs, or ASMs BN-2T Maritime Defenders of the Maritime Security India’s Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard. First recipient
incl Kh‑25ML (“Karen”), Kh‑27 (“Kegler”), Kh‑29 Agency on EEZ (exclusive economic zone) patrol. A was the Coast Guard (15 delivered of 36 228‑101s
(“Kedge”), and Kh-58 (“Kilter”). When gun pods former Seyc helles police BN-2A is operated by that ordered, with three more due this year). These equip
are fitted, with downward attack capability, the two CGAS 744 and 750 for coastal patrol, antipollution,
underbelly pods can be mounted to fire rearward. and antis mugglingmissions. They have a crew of four,
360° scan Marec radar in an underf uselage fairing, an
Su-30MKI IR/UV linescan for pollution detection, a one‑million-
Until USAF’s F-22 enters service, the Su-30MKI candlep ower searchlight, loudspeaker, marine mark‑
(multirole commercial India) will make India’s fighter ers, a sliding cabin door to air-drop six- or 10‑man
squadrons the best-equipped in the world. The first life rafts, and provisions for underw ing antipollution
eight aircraft, already delivered, are tandem two-seat sprayp ods. Armament of two underwing 7.62‑mm gun
fighters generally similar to the single-seat Su-27 pods or ASMs is optional.
(“Flanker”) but with more advanced avionics, the The Dornier 228‑201 utility and logistic support
ability to engage two airborne targets simultaneously, transports for Nos. 41 and 59 Squadrons of the Indian
compatibility with high precision guided ASMs and Air Force (25 delivered, of 50 required) have a large
ARMs, and an in-flight refueling system for missions rear‑fuselage cargo door. The shore‑based Indian
of 10 hours or more. They will be followed in 1998 by Navy -201s of INAS 310 at Dabolim are equipped
eight more, upgraded with French Sextant avionics, for maritime surveillance and antiship missions with
including a VEH3000 HUD, Totem INS/GPS, and Super Marec radar and antiship missiles. Only five of
liquid-crystal MFDs. Twelve delivered in 1999 will add the planned 24 have yet been delivered; 10 more are
canards; the last 12 covered by the current contract will Dornier 228-101, Indian Coast Guard due in 1998–99. Earlier this year, Dornier transferred all
have AL-37FU engines with thrust-vectoring nozzles, manufacturing rights in the 228 to the Indian company.
C‑212M Aviocar
Early this year, the Royal Thai Army received the
second of two Series 300 Aviocars from CASA, the first
having been delivered in February 1996. Ordered in
C-130H-30 Hercules, Royal Thai Air Force (Paul Jackson)
March 1995, they are configured with 22 foldaway troop/
paratroop seats and were delivered with alternative
cabin fitments of VIP seating and a 12-litter medevac
kit. The C-212s supplement the RTA’s now-elderly Power Plant: two Rolls‑Royce Dart Mk 532‑2L/S
Shorts 330UTTs based at RTAB Bangkok. Avionics turbop rops; each 2,280 ehp.
include a Honeywell automatic flight-control system Dimensions: span 98 ft 6 in, length 67 ft 0 in, height
with GPS navigation, Bendix/King RDS-82 weather 24 ft 10 in.
radar, and a Collins TCAS (traffic alert and collision Weights: empty 25,453 lb, gross 46,500–51,000 lb.
avoidance system). Performance: max cruising speed 278 mph, ceiling
Unconfirmed reports suggested that the Royal Thai 25,000 ft, T‑O run 2,480 ft, landing run 1,140 ft,
Air Force was negotiating for up to 16 Aviocars in 1996, range with 9,527-lb payload 1,624 miles.
but no firm order had been announced at the time of Accommodation: crew of two; up to 58 troops, 48
writing. (Data for C-212M Series 300.) parat roops and dispatchers, 24 litters and nine
Contractor: Construcciones Aeronauticas SA (CASA), sitting patients/medical attendants, or up to 13,047
Spain. lb of cargo (17,547 lb at overload max T‑O weight).
Armament: none.
Power Plant: two AlliedSignal TPE331‑10R‑513C G222, Royal Thai Air Force
turboprops; each 900 shp (flat rated).
Dimensions: span 66 ft 6 1⁄ 2 in, length 52 ft 11 3⁄ 4 in, Il‑76MD (NATO “Candid”)
height 21 ft 7 3⁄ 4 in. Only one of the 10 air forces that operate Il-76s
Weights: empty 8,333 lb, gross 17,857 lb. worldwide is in south Asia. India began taking
Performance: max cruising speed at 10,000 ft 220 delivery of 24 Il-76MDs in 1985 for its Nos. 25 and
mph, ceiling 26,000 ft, T‑O distance 2,680 ft, landing 44 (Mountain Geese) medium/long-range transport
run 935 ft, range at max cruising speed 519 miles Squadrons, under the name Gajaraj (“King Elephant”).
(with max payload), 1,045 miles (with max fuel and Compared with the original military Il‑76M, the MD
4,674-lb payload). has upgraded engines that maintain full power up to
Accommodation: crew of two; up to 25 troops (or ISA + 23°C. Gross weight and payload are increased;
24 paratroops and jumpmaster), 12 litters and four an additional 22,046 lb of fuel increases range with
medical personnel, or up to 6,217 lb of cargo. max fuel by 745 miles.
Armament: one 551‑lb capacity hardpoint on each Rear ramp/doors and advanced mechanical systems
side of fuselage optional, for machine gun pods, facilitate loading, unloading, and positioning contain‑
rocket pods, or one of each. ers and other freight inside the 8,310 cu ft hold. Being
fully pressurized, the Il‑76 can carry troops as an
CN-235M alternative to freight.
Designed for short-haul operations from either paved
Y-12 (II), Sri Lanka Air Force (Peter Design Bureau: Ilyushin OKB, Russia.
runways or unprepared airstrips, the rear-loading CN- Steinemann) Power Plant: four Aviadvigatel D‑30KP‑2 turbofans;
235 has attracted a large number of orders from Asian/ each 26,455 lb thrust.
Pacific Rim customers and elsewhere. The Royal Thai Dimensions: span 165 ft 8 in, length 152 ft 10 1⁄ 4 in,
Border Police received a Spanish-built CN-235M-200 height 48 ft 5 in.
in March last year, which is used for border patrol, Weight: gross 418,875 lb.
Skytrains. With their rear-loading ramp, the G222s Performance: cruising speed at 29,500–39,370 ft
medevac, parachutist, and antidrug operations as well
can rapidly load and unload cargo and/or personnel 466–497 mph, T‑O run 5,580 ft, landing run 2,950–
as more mundane transport duties. Last year also, the
on short unprepared airstrips, in remote areas, as well 3,280 ft, range with max payload 2,265 miles, with
Thai Ministry of Agriculture arranged a barter deal with
as carry out air-drops. Deliveries to No. 603 Squadron 44,090‑lb payload 4,535 miles.
IPTN for two equivalent CN-235M-220s in exchange
at Don Muang began in 1995. Accommodation: crew of seven, incl two freight
for Thai rice. These will replace two elderly C-123K
Contractor: Alenia, Italy. handlers; up to 140 troops, 125 paratroops, or
Providers in the country’s vital rainmaking operations,
Power Plant: two General Electric T64-GE-P4D 110,230 lb of freight.
for fire-fighting, and to combat illegal logging activities.
turboprops; each 3,400 shp (flat-rated). Armament: two 23‑mm twin‑barrel GSh‑23L guns in
(Data for CN-235M-200.)
Dimensions: span 94 ft 2 in, length 74 ft 5 1⁄ 2 in, manned tail turret. Provision for packs of 96 50‑mm
Contractor: Airtech consortium (CASA, Spain, and
height 34 ft 8 1⁄ 4 in. IRCM flares in landing gear fairings and/or on sides
IPTN, Indonesia).
Weights: empty 34,610 lb, gross 61,730 lb. of rear fuselage.
Power Plant: two General Electric CT7-9C turbo‑
Performance: max speed at 15,000 ft 303 mph, ceil‑
props; each 1,750 shp (1,870 shp with automatic
ing 25,700 ft, T‑O run 2,250 ft, landing run 2,860 ft, Y‑12 (II)
power reserve).
range with max payload 783 miles. The Y‑12 (II) is the main production version of this
Dimensions: span 84 ft 8 in, length 70 ft 2 1⁄ 2 in,
Accommodation: crew of two or three; 46 troops, 40 small Chinese STOL transport. One hundred or more
height 26 ft 10 in.
paratroops, 36 litters and four attendants, or 19,840 have been sold, of which at least a quarter were for
Weights: empty 19,400 lb, gross 35,273 lb.
lb of freight, vehicles, and heavy guns. military customers. Nine (now reduced to about six)
Performance: max cruising speed at 18,000 ft 262
Armament: none. were delivered to the Sri Lanka Air Force between
mph, ceiling 22,500 ft, T-O to 50 ft 3,825 ft, landing
run with propeller reversal 1,313 ft, range (45 min 1986 and 1990. Although nominally belonging to No.
HS 748 202 Light Transport Squadron of the 2d Transport Wing
reserves) 950 miles with max payload, 2,762 miles
About 50 of the 64 HS 748s that HAL built under at Ratmalana, they have also been used for maritime
with 7,826-lb payload.
license for the Indian Air Force (29 aircrew trainers, patrol and surveillance, while some have been adapted
Accommodation: crew of two or three; up to 48
20 HS 748(M) side‑loading freighters, three for aerial as makeshift bombers, able to carry a 1,000‑lb weapon
troops, 46 paratroops, 24 litters and four medical
survey, and 12 VIP transports) continue in service, the load in raids against the Tamil separatists.
staff; or 13,227-lb max payload of cargo or mission
freighters with No. 11 (Rhinos) Squadron, the survey Contractor: Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation,
equipment, incl weapons.
aircraft with No. 106 Squadron, and the trainers with People’s Republic of China.
Armament: Up to 7,716 lb of payload, on six underwing
the Navigation and Signals School and the Transport Power Plant: Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A‑27
stations, can consist of torpedoes, ASMs, or other
Training Wing. One 748 has been used as an AWACS turboprops; each 620 shp (flat rated).
weapons and equipment.
test-bed for a dorsal rotodome, but any production Dimensions: span 56 ft 6 1⁄ 2 in, length 48 ft 9 in,
order is expected to involve a more modern platform height 18 ft 3 1⁄ 2 in.
G222 aircraft, such as the Il-76 or C-130.
After appearing to have stagnated in the late 1980s, Weights: empty 6,261 lb, gross 11,684 lb.
British‑built 748s serve with the Royal Nepalese Performance: max cruising speed at 9,840 ft 181 mph,
market prospects for the G222 were reawakened in
Air Force (one VIP); the Royal Thai Air Force (five ceiling 22,960 ft, T-O run 1,116 ft, landing run 656
1990 when USAF ordered 10 as C-27A Spartans.
with No. 603 Squadron); and Sri Lanka (one). (Data ft, range (max fuel) 832 miles.
More recently, the Royal Thai Air Force chose the
for Series 2A.) Accommodation: crew of two; up to 17 passengers,
G222 to meet its light tactical transport requirement.
Contractors: Hawker Siddeley Aviation, UK (now 15 paratroops, or 3,748 lb of cargo.
Six were ordered in 1993 to replace the last of RTAF’s
British Aerospace); Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, India. Armament: normally none. n
very elderly Fairchild C-123K Providers and C-47